Winsted man’s rearrest order vacated due to clerical error

Published 10:43 pm, Friday, June 27, 2014

A rearrest for 43-year-old Matthew Brennan, accused of violating protective order put in place for his 70-mother whom he is accused of neglecting, was vacated Friday, a day after Judge Richard Maranon ordered Brennan rearrested on $25,000 bond when he failed to show up for a Thursday arraignment.

An arrest warrant, however, wasn’t issued because of a paperwork mix-up. Brennan called Winchester police early Friday looking to turn himself in. He was told police didn’t have an arrest warrant, so he was referred to Bantam court officials. He was placed back on the arraignment docket Friday.

Devin Stilson, supervisory assistant’s state’s attorney for Bantam, said the rearrest was vacated and Brennan’s case is continued to July 23. He is free on a combined $7,000 bond.

A court clerk referred a reporter to bail services for an explanation.

A protection order is still in effect and bars Brennan from having contact with his mother or living at her 102 Ledge Drive home.

In addition to the violation of protective order, Brennan was charged in an arrest warrant with a single count of cruelty to persons after he told police a physician and psychiatrist advised him not to risk his health to ensure his mother was properly fed, clothed and bathed.

The woman had bedsores and hadn’t eaten or drank in several hours.

Brennan was arrested again Wednesday and posted a $5,000 bond after police, responding to a medical-related issue, said he fled the home. Intimidation is listed as the offense on an arrest record.

A frail man who moaned when a marshal unshackled him after an initial arraignment, Brennan is riddled by chronic depression, anxiety attacks and arthritis, court documents show. He used a walker to get around and had a lift chair at home, police said.

Brennan’s wife Michele said he is not living at the home and she didn’t know where he was staying.

Calling allegations against her husband unfounded, she said Matthew Brennan refused to get his mother a glass of water because he suffered a panic attack.

She called her husband’s arrest a “big misunderstanding.”

“You have to understand that things that are said are taken out of context and twisted around,” she said.

Michele Brennan said her mother-in-law is bedridden and couldn’t speak with a reporter who visited the home Thursday.

As part of the protective order, Brennan surrendered a shotgun and two rifles to police.

Officers have responded to the Winsted home several times because of Matthew Brennan’s refusal to pick up his falling mother, police said.

The elderly woman said family ignored her, and Michele Brennan refused to talk to her because of an arrest for money theft.